On Sunday 4th November 2018, the 123 solo sailors in the Route du Rhum set off on a long 3,542 mile transatlantic race between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre. With a start at 2pm from the wet line in front of Pointe de Grouin, the first solo sailors passed Cap Fréhel after around 30 minutes of racing. And it was Sebastien Josse who was the first to pass this symbolic milestone at 2:34 p. m...
Since then, the fleet has been led by François Gabart in the Ultimates, followed by Sébastien Josse... The first one passed Ushant, around 18:45, which he left to starboard, taking the Passage du Fromveur.
The first technical stops
As the regulations allow it is possible to make as many stops as desired within a 150 mile radius after departure, without any penalty. And as the first Ultimates flew away, Armel le Cléac'h was forced to stop in Roscoff for a minor repair of the energy system. The skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire IX docked at a buoy at the entrance to the channel of the Finisterian port where he was joined by his team at 19:15. 35 minutes later, at 7:50 p. m., he was able to start again in race mode and head for the tip of Brittany.
It is not the only one, since Erwan Le Roux, on his Multi50 FenêtréA-Mix Buffet, is also stopping in Roscoff to repair a problem with the central hull rudder that caused the start of the waterway. The technical teams must first carry out a diagnosis and carry out repairs quickly so that the navigator can leave
